Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.comMichigan and Alabama open the 2012 season at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the Cowboys Classic.

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ARLINGTON, Texas --

Fourth Quarter

1:19-0:00 -- That's a final, Alabama wins it 41-14. The 27-point loss is the most lopsided season-opening defeat in Michigan football history.

3:00-1:19 -- Michigan gets the ball back, Russell Bellomy gets a chance to play -- but his first college pass, is an interception. Alabama takes it back.

5:32-3:00 -- Michigan punts, Alabama has its second unit in there. Taylor Lewan limped off the field with a right leg injury, although Michigan radio didn't seem to believe it was too serious. We'll see what his status is after the game.

9:59-5:32 -- T.J. Yeldon is going to be something special for Alabama -- he's got 11 carries for 111 yards, and now add a touchdown. Alabama gets back on the board with a one-yard plunge, moves in front by 27. Alabama 41, Michigan 14

12:18-9:59 -- Another sputtered drive for Michigan, Alabama takes over at its own 43. Let's see if the Michigan defense can keep the Tide out of the endzone again.

15:00-12:18 -- Michigan forces another punt, and keeps Alabama off the scoreboard for the entire third quarter. It's the small things right now. Wolverines taking over on their own eight after the kick.

Third Quarter

2:34-0:14 -- Devin Gardner has a long way to go at wide receiver, but he's on the board. Robinson finds a wide-open Gardner down the sideline for a 44-yard touchdown pass. Nice adjustment by Gardner, who has looked rough at receiver for most of the day. Alabama 34, Michigan 14

4:25-2:34 -- The good news for Michigan? Denard Robinson jogged back out onto the field, and appears fine. The bad news? Alabama gets a 51-yard field goal from Cade Foster -- yes, Alabama has everything. Alabama 34, Michigan 7

7:43-4:25 -- Michigan lets Denard Robinson run a little bit, but it doesn't pay off -- as the Wolverines turn it over on downs near midfield. Making matters worse, Robinson was injured on the play. He left the field and is now in the locker room, but did leave under his own power. It appears Russell Bellomy will be taking over at quarterback.

12:05-7:43 -- Will Campbell comes up big (no pun intended) with a 16-yard sack, forcing Alabama to try a 52-yard field goal. And, finally, something doesn't go right for the Crimson Tide -- as the kick sailed wide left. Michigan takes over on its own 35.

15:00-12:05 -- Michigan picks up a first down after a 20-yard completion from Robinson to Drew Dileo, but gets nothing more. Make that three penalties now on Taylor Lewan, as he stalls the drive with an offside call. Alabama gets it back on its own 20.

Second Quarter

2:20-0:00 -- Alabama moves into Michigan territory, but the half ends with a Raymon Taylor fumble recovery. But Alabama has completely owned this football game. Michigan gets the ball after halftime, down 24 points.

4:25-2:20 -- Michigan finally shows signs of life offensively, as Robinson hits Jeremy Gallon for a 71-yard pass play down the sideline. Robinson -- with only his second carry of the night -- punches it in from six yards out, and the Wolverines avoid the shutout. Alabama 31, Michigan 7

5:23-4:31 -- An SEC!, SEC!, SEC! chant breaks out as Denard Robinson has a pass intercepted by C.J. Mosley, who promptly brings it back for a 16-yard touchdown. A disaster for Michigan in just about every way imaginable. Alabama 31, Michigan 0

7:00-5:23 -- Even Alabama's punter is awesome. James Ross sacks A.J. McCarron on third down, but punter Cody Mandell booms a kick to pin Michigan back to its own 1. This could get bad.

9:46-7:03 -- Michigan gets a strong return from Dennis Norfleet -- who has been the only highlight of the day -- but it's called back for holding. The offense still can't get anything going, and Robinson currently has one carry. Nowhere near good enough, Crimson Tide looking for more -- on their own 47 after the punt.

13:18-9:53 -- Alabama gashes Michigan on a huge screen pass and a huge run by freshman T.J. Yeldon -- who appears to be a monster. But Michigan finally shows a slight bit of backbone there, forcing the Crimson Tide to settle for a 22-yard field goal from Jeremy Shelley. Alabama 24, Michigan 0

15:00-13:18 -- More of the same for the Michigan offense. No room for Vincent Smith to do anything, Denard Robinson with a deep incompletion. And it's punt time again. Also, literally no effort by Al Borges to get Robinson out in space right now.

First Quarter

1:15- 0:00 -- Denard Robinson finally has a carry -- but Michigan has zero points. First quarter is over, Wolverines are a hot mess right now. Michigan has the ball, though, first and 10 from its own 38 when the second quarter begins.

2:15-1:24 -- A disaster of a first quarter gets worse for Michigan -- as its defensive line continues to get dominated. Eddie Lacy converts the interception into a nine-yard touchdown. Michigan completely out-manned just about everywhere to this point. Bama out-gaining UM 152-22. Alabama 21, Michigan 0

4:53- 2:15 -- Bad to worse for Michigan -- Robinson sails a pass that's intercepted by Dee Milner, who brings it all the way back to the UM 16. Tide closing in on another one.

5:54-4:59 -- Alabama strikes quick and big. After gashing Michigan up the middle again for a 16-yard gain on the ground, cornerback Courtney Avery is burnt down the sideline -- A.J. McCarron to DeAndrew White for 51 yards. Tide in control. Alabama 14, Michigan 0.

6:48-5:57 -- Not exactly what Michigan was looking for. A no gain by Thomas Rawls, and two incompletions by Denard Robinson leads to Michigan's second punt of the day. Michigan got off schedule on the first play of the drive, and never recovered. ... Tide take over at their own 33, still no Blake Countess.

11:20-6:56 -- Alabama gets on the board first. Michigan plays the entire series without starting corner Blake Countess (injury), and Alabama pounds the ground with Eddie Lacy and backup T.J. Yeldon. A.J. McCarron polishes it off with a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Michael Williams. Alabama 7, Michigan 0

13:56-11:34 -- Michigan picks up a first down, but nothing more. Devin Gardner starts at wide receiver, but drops the first pass thrown to him. Roy Roundtree also with a drop, and Taylor Lewan flagged for a personal foul. Michigan punts.

15:00-14:04 -- Michigan wins the toss and defers -- and it pays off. Wolverines stuff Eddie Lacy on first and 10, force an incompletion and get a near sack from Jibreel Black. Alabama goes three and out, and punts.

Can Michigan shock the world?

One of the most highly-anticipated season-openers in Michigan football history has finally arrived, as the eighth-ranked Wolverines will try to knock off defending national champion Alabama in college football's marquee opener to the 2012 season.

The action all starts from Cowboys Stadium, officially, at 8:12 p.m.

Follow along with MLive.com writers here in Arlington, Texas as the Wolverines look for the upset. Michigan will have to topple the Crimson Tide without suspended running back Fitz Toussaint and suspended defensive end Frank Clark. And Denard Robinson's Heisman Trophy candidacy officially begins against arguably the top defense in America on the nation's biggest stage.

Can Michigan pull it off? Are the Wolverines back? Will the Big Ten finally be able to silence the SEC, at least for one night? Answers to those questions are about to begin.